What material piston rings would be best for a turbo motor shooting for 1000 crank hp? This is on a LS1 application. I was reffered to go ahead and run the Diamond pro select ring set, which is a moly ring, by one shop, they claim they run them on all their big hp cars. The shop who is assembling the short block tells me moly wont stand up to the 1000 hp turbo duty...

opinions on what would be my best material to go with?

 

Well, a regular moly ring 'will' take 1000fwhp no problem. (if there are no problems)

Back when I had a blower, one of my fuel pumps died and the car went lean at WOT going down the track. The result of the detonation was moly cracked off the top rings. (that's all that happened. Headgaskets were fine, etc)

I now use a Hellfire top ring, which is overkill for the amount of power I'm making, but if for some reason I rattle the motor, I won't need to pull it and replace the rings.

 

A plasma coated moly ring wouldn't be a bad choice. And I might not shy too far away from the tool steel rings if building a race engine. They are kinda hard on bores though.

Check out Speed Pro's plasma moly rings and make sure you use a piston with good top ring placement. And I agree with Intmd8, the Hellfire might be overkill but I wouldn't mind using it in that application if the budget allowed.

-Mindgame

 

can you buy just the top ring like you described Jim? Or am I gonna have to get a entire set?

This motor will see alot of street duty like yours does.

thx

 

Call Total Seal and get their idea on your set up.They ain't cheap but they are good.
I personally would not put molley in my lawn mower.They will flake out and leave you with no seal.They can't take dirt,heat,or pressure.I run ductile iron in my power adder engines,or "0"gap top ring.
Like MG said the tool steal would be a good choice.They are hard to seat,so attention has to be paid to cyl. finish and installation.I would let Total Seal give me their thought's on this.